CFB: Wieking Named NSIC Special Teams POTW

sioux falls, sd

Be consistent for four seasons, keep gathering the hardware.

USF senior kicker/punter Braden Wieking was reminded of that Monday morning. After booting a pair of field goals in the Cougars’ 42-20 road win against Minot State on Saturday, Wieking was named the NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week.

“He’s been perfect in practice. He’s been nearly perfect in the games," third-year head coach Stugart said. "We feel very comfortable putting him in during any game situation.”

The four-year starter converted a 41-yard field goal to put the Cougars in front 17-7 at the half and later tacked on a 32-yard chip shot— which stands as the 40th converted field goal of his career. He needs one field goal to tie Matt Lingren for second on the all-time USF career list and four to tie all-time career leader TC Fraser (44).

Wieking is 40-for-58 (.689) on field goal attempts in his Cougar career.

The four-year starter also handles the punting duties and averaged 39 yards per punt on seven kicks. He had a long of 52, and pinned the Beavers’ inside their own 20-yard line once. He also netted 478 yards on eight kickoffs (59.8 yard average) with one touchback.

Wieking has been perfect on field goals this season – 4-for-4 –and has converted 12 of 13 extra points. He is currently ranked 18th in the NCAA D-II for field goals per game and his punting average of 37.95 yards places him in the top-60 in the country.

A 2009 graduate of Sioux Falls Christian, Wieking has received several weekly and national accolades throughout his collegiate career. He was named the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Special Teams Player of the Week three times during USF’s NAIA tenure and is also a former NAIA National Player of the Week (9/13/10). Wieking also was honored as the 2009 Russell Athletic/NAIA National Championship Offensive Player of the Game for converting three field goals and two PAT’s in the Cougars’ 25-22 victory against Lindenwood.

The Cougars (3-0) will host Bemidji State (1-2) on Saturday with kickoff scheduled for noon.